PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): The decision by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to reduce the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) payouts before eventually discontinuing the scheme is a right decision, said Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar.
The Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister said this was because BR1M poses a financial burden to the country in the long term.
He said BR1M, which was introduced in 2012, was not fairly distributed to the people.
“With the present economic status of the country, BR1M, in the long run, is not sustainable. The handouts, from RM500 to RM800 then to RM1,200 ... where will it end?
“Not everyone is getting it (BR1M). It is not fairly distributed on the ground. It is a political tool,” he said when met at a luncheon here on Monday (Aug 27).
In an interview with a news portal recently, Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying that his administration aimed to reduce BR1M in stages before it is discontinued.
On Sunday (Aug 26), Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the disbursement of BR1M should be discontinued as it had elements of corruption to get the support of the people. - Bernama
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